bythemethod.com blog

So you’ve got your children interested in sport and athletics and now you want some information to get them started. The web should be full of it of course - but it isn’t. If I want to know about the latest sports game for the Wii or what is happening on T.V. it’s easy but trying to find something about how to get my children fit is near impossible.

There are the usual culprits of soccer training etc or products you can buy to help but in general things are pretty bad. Then if you want information about children and athletics you can pretty much forget it. I’m wanting something I can do with my children at home by the way.

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Here is a four point method for motivating a team. It comes from the world of sports but the approach is easily adapted to any team of any age. It comes from an excellent book called “Coaching and Motivation: A practical guide to maximum athletic performance” by William E. Warren. Here is a man who knows his stuff based on many years experience - this stuff is not just theory it works.

1. You must have a clear plan of where you’re going. Without such a plan, you’re unlikely to inspire confidence in youngsters who have no idea where they’re going, whether in athletics or in life.

2. You must be able to communicate that plan to your players in terms they understand. The best plan in the world is useless if your players cannot execute it, or if they don’t understand what you’re trying to do.

3. You must be able to let each player know exactly how he/she fits into your overall plans for the team.The coach’s efforts in this regard are integral in the process of molding individuals into a closly knit team. Players must be shown precisely how their contributions can help the team. Without that necessary step, their efforts are likely to be disoriented and misdirected.

4. You must tell the players what you want often enough - and in enough different ways (e.g. slogans and posters on the dressing room walls, etc) - that everyone understands what you’re saying. Tell them what you want them to believe, and why you believe it. Then tell them again. And again. And when or if you ever reach a point where you think they understand you, find another way to say the same thing, and tell them again.